Visitors to the
Chinese Military Museum in Beijing pass by an anti-aircraft missile in
2007, shortly after Beijing acknowledged destroying one of its satellites
with a land-based missile. The United States is working to engage China on
space security issues that have impacts on offensive and defensive missile
systems, according to the State Department (AP Photo/Greg Baker).

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration in the last six months has seen a
greater willingness by China for bilateral engagement on space security issues,
a senior State Department official said on Friday.

“I have seen over the last six or seven months a much more
active approach with China … on engaging the United States on space security
issues. I’ve had some very good top level discussions with senior officials,”
said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Defense Policy Frank
Rose.

The United States foresees an escalating danger to commercial
and military
satellites as more countries and nonstate actors acquire antisatellite
capabilities, Rose said. U.S military orbiters enable secure armed forces
communications, early detection of ballistic missile launches, and precise
targeting coordinates for weapon strikes.

Of particular concern to Washington is China’s developing,
multifaceted antisatellite program, he told an audience at the International
Institute for Strategic Studies.

China surprised the international community six years ago
when it used a ballistic missile to destroy one of its old weather satellites.
The resulting debris has already
smashed into a Russian satellite and is cause for worry for nations that own
some of the estimated 1,100 active satellite in orbit.

The 2007
ASAT test and China's follow-up in 2010 are assessed to have involved SC-19
missiles that are a modified version of the Dongfeng 21 ballistic missile with
an added kinetic kill vehicle component. The SC-19 could have applications as a
ballistic missile interceptor, according to experts.

Washington views bilateral engagement with Beijing on space
security as critical. Both world powers have a “long-term interest in
maintaining the stability of the space environment, especially limiting the
creation of long-lived space debris,” Rose said. “It is important that we
discuss these issues bilaterally in order to prevent misperceptions and
miscalculations. The United States plans to continue to improve our efforts to
discuss these efforts with China.”

About three years ago, the Joint Space Operations Center at
Vandenberg Air Force Base in California detected that a piece of debris from the
2007 ASAT test was on trajectory to collide with one of China’s own operational
satellites. The U.S. government alerted Beijing to the development so that it
might move its orbiter out of the junk’s path, Rose said.

Rose suggested that such assistance can demonstrate to China
the benefits of engaging with the United States on satellite and other space
issues.

“I think China is coming to the view as well that it’s
important to engage on these issues,” the State Department official said. “The
United States believes it is very vital that we have this dialogue.”

Bilateral military talks that touch on strategic concerns
such as missile defense occur periodically. Rose did not say when the United
States and China might next engage on the issue of space security.